Code Switch: What's In A 'Karen'?

It's Been a Minute

NPR

News, Religion & Spirituality, News Commentary, Spirituality, Society & Culture

4.7 • 9.2K Ratings

🗓️ 4 August 2020

⏱️ 25 minutes

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Summary

"Karen" is not just a name. It's also a persona, an attitude, a label for a certain type of white woman determined to get what she wants—especially at the expense of Black people. Karens are part of a long lineage going back at least a couple centuries. This week we share an episode from Code Switch about the origins of "Karen" as an archetype, who her ancestors were, and why such a label even exists.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, I'll Sam Sanders here.
0:02.5	Today in the feed for It's Been a Minute,
0:04.2	we are bringing you a special episode
0:06.0	from our friends, our play cousins, over at CodeSwitch.
0:10.5	They're bringing us a deep dive into a name
0:12.7	that is not just a name, it is a persona,
0:15.3	it is an attitude, it is a way of wielding power
0:19.0	often against black people.
0:20.5	You know this name, it is Karen.
0:23.4	So who is Karen and why are we hearing that name
0:26.7	everywhere this year?
0:28.4	On social media and TV shows on this very podcast,
0:33.0	I will let CodeSwitch host Shrine Mari-Solmaraji
0:35.5	and Jean Demby begin this conversation.
0:38.2	They are joined by their own Karen, Karen Grigsby Bates.
0:42.6	Who I like, she's a good Karen.
0:44.7	Okay, enjoy.
0:49.8	I'm Jean Demby.
0:50.7	I'm Shrine Mari-Solmaraji and this is CodeSwitch.
0:54.4	From NPR.
0:56.1	Tonight a woman from New York City
0:57.6	who was seen on camera angrily confronting a black man
	...

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